2 runaway couples end lives in Thane

Two young couples ran away from their home in Chattisgarh to get married, moved to Mumbai 25 days ago, and were found dead in their rented room in Ovala village, off Ghodbunder Road, on Wednesday night.

The couples allegedly hanged themselves from the ceiling using nylon ropes. The Kasarwadavli police found a suicide note, which said that no one should be blamed. A case of accidental death report has been registered.

The victims have been identified as Hiralal Sahu, 22, a resident of Rohina Village, Lalita Kosare, 19, Lakhoj Kurre, 22, and Tulsi Tande, 21, all residents of Kaundkera village. Sahu was married to Kosare, while Kurre and Tande were a couple.

"Both women were wearing mangalsutras," said Pramod Khade, senior inspector. "The four had run away from Raipur. A missing complaint was filed by the women's parents at Rajim police station on February 5."

"The two men had studied only till Class XII and worked as construction labourers in the city," said Khade, adding that the post-mortem reports verified that the cause of death was caused by asphyxiation due to hanging.

The bodies were found by the owner of the room, Pradip Thakur, around 9.30pm on Wednesday.

According to the police, the four had locked themselves in the room since afternoon. A few people came to visit them in the night, but no one answered the door. Thakur then asked his son to go into the room through the sliding window, the police said.

The police found out about the couples' native place after questioning a few labourers. "The women's families are on their way to Thane," added Khade.

The police recovered two mobile phones, but have not been able to go through the records.